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A quality Assessment Study On East Coast Road In Tamilnadu, India

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 A quality Assessment Study On East Coast Road In
Tamilnadu, India
Velmurugan Pasupathi
Research Scholar, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai
Assistant Professor, Madras Christian College, Chennai
India

Dr. B. George
Associate Professor and Head
Department of Tourism Management
Madurai Kamaraj University College
Madurai - 625 002, India

Abstract

Global Evolutions on Social and Economic aspects along with the Civilizations are catalysed
primarily by the evolution of Roads and subsequent modes of Transport only. Effective road networks
are vital to prosperity of any economy. Roads and Infrastructure provide not only major means of
transport for both passengers and freight but also are crucial in economic development of any country.
Roads across the world and the Good physical connectivity in the urban and rural areas have been
trump cards for Tourism growth, India is no exception. In fact India’s rapid growing economy has
witnessed a rise in demand for transport infrastructure and services. When roads are developed they
can be used as a facilitator and as an attraction too. Roads designed to meet certain standards can
become an attraction for tourists in the long run and in turn to tourism development too.
United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Switzerland, Japan and France are top countries in Road
Quality Index in 2017. Route 66 U.S, Great Ocean Road Australia, Trans-Canada Highway Canada,
National Express Ways Japan, Golden Quadrilateral Road India are some of the major road network
of the world contributing for the economic growth as well as shouldering tourism in the respective
countries. The East Coast Road in India was originally developed by a process of interlinking and
improving a series of small village roads that connected the fishing villages along the coast of Bay of
Bengal. This road project is funded by Asian Development Bank connects Chennai Metropolitan City
to Kanayakumari. This road connects Kovalam, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Chidambaram,
Karaikal, Rameshwaram, Gulf of Mannar, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari the famous tourist destinations
of Tamil Nadu State of India. This study aims to assess the quality of East Coast Road and provide
insight about the contribution of this road to Tourism Development in Tamil Nadu, INDIA. This paper
will measure the Infrastructure facilities, Tourism, Traffic flow, Environmental Conditions and
Security concerns of the East Coast Road. This multidisciplinary paper will be prepared through
questionnaire survey method, appropriate testing will be used to test the Hypothesis to measure the
quality. Implications and Recommendations for Government and NGO’s of Tamil Nadu will be
discussed for future Research.

Key Words: Road Quality, Road Quality Index, Tourism Development

1. Introduction
The world’s total length of road networks has crossed 64 million kms. India’s transport sector
is large and diverse; it caters to the needs of 1.1 billion people. India has the third largest road network
in the world with a total network of 4.1 million kms. (Roadtraffic-technology, 2012). As compared to
other modes of transport, road transport may be described as well-accessible for a user flexible,
effective, reliable and rapid. In a majority of states, road transport plays a leading role in the national
sectors (Zak et al. 2011).

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 In recent years, the government of India has realized the importance of improving the road
network for sustaining the economic growth of the country (Rastogi, 2006). Golden Quadrilateral
Road is the fifth longest road network in the world for the length of 5486 kms, connecting four major
Metropolitan Cities of India. This road provides a classic connection to Delhi – Kolkata – Chennai –
Mumabi – Delhi that resembles a Quadrilateral and surely its Quality makes it Golden Quadrilateral.
Road Network in India carries almost 90 percent of the country’s passenger traffic and 65 percent of
its freight. The density of India’s highway network at 0.66 km of highway per square kilometer of land
is similar to that of the United States (0.65) and much greater than China's (0.16) or Brazil's (0.20).
However, most highways in India do not match the international standards and 40 percent of India’s
villages do not have access to all-weather roads.The major roads in India are classified as National
Highways (NH) and State Highways(SH). The development, construction, and maintenance of
National Highways (NH) is the responsibility of the Government of India (GoI). National highways
form the arterial roads in the country and are generally better maintained than the state highways. To
further improve the national highways network, GoI had taken up an ambitious program of upgrading
about 38,000 kms at a cost of Rs. 1.58 trillion (NHAI, 2008), in that line East Coast Road is a premier
road in TamilNadu.

East Coast Road (State Highway 49) in Tamil Nadu runs for 765 Kms from Chennai to
Kanyakumari. In Phase-I, a stretch of 166 Km from Chennai to Cuddalore was widened to two lane
and strengthened at a cost of Rs.102 crores with loan assistance from Asian Development Bank. East
Coast Road first Phase-I constructed by Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation (TNRDC) in
support with Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL & FS).Recently, the stretch of ECR
from Puducherry to Nagapattinam has been declared as National Highways. The balance length from
Nagapattinam to Kanyakumari has been taken up for widening and improvement under World Bank
assisted Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project.

2. Aim And Scope Of The Research

1. To study the Profile of East Coast Road, Tamil Nadu, INDIA
2. To understand the Road User Satisfaction Index Model and analyze the Road Quality Index
of various countries
3. To Study and Analyze the various Qualities of East Coast Road
4. To identify the problems and challenges faced by the ECR users
5. To provide suggestions and proposal for suggestions.

3. Review Of Literature
White (1981) states that the elements of tourism market consists of Accommodation,
Attractions, Food and Drink, Transport, Events and the potential customers in the destination area.

Source: White (1981)

Figure-1: Elements of Tourism

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 In the context of elements of tourism market defined by White, Transport becomes the fourth
and vital element in the development of any tourist destination. There are many longest roads in the
world helping the respective countries Tourism, Hospitality and the Economic development.

Transport is a crucial component of infrastructure. A well-developed transport network

facilitates the integration and interdependence of different sectors by aiding quick and adequate
movement of people and material. Road Transport plays an important part in economic growth and
globalization. Beaver (2002) defining in his dictionary of Travel and Tourism Terminology, Transport
or Transportation is the movement of people, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes
of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline and space.

Anne Dodge (1999), in her Research Paper, Route 66 Where are you? Submitted in
Massachusetts Institute of Technology analysed the History of Route 66, the development of American
Automobile Highways, Motels and Tourism in this corridor in U.S.A. In 1966, Route 66 developed in
various phases wound 2400 miles south from Chicago through Saint Louis, Missouri, down through
Tulsa and Oklahoma City, across the south west via Santa Fe, New Mexico and ended in downtown
Los Angeles. Route 66 began as a series interconnected, local roads that were building out from the
centre of countless towns.

According to Groth (2000) A Road is an identifiable route, way or path between two or more
places. Roads are typically smoothed, paved, or otherwise prepared to allow easy travel; though they
need not be, and historically many roads were simply recognizable routes without any formal
construction or maintenance, explained in his book Sustainable Tourism and Environment.

India has an extensive road network and provides amenity to millions of people every day, thus
road transport is one of the important ingredients for the social and economic development of the
country. According to the World Bank, national highways in India constitute a length of close to
70,748 km, which is a mere two percent of the road network, but carry about 40 percent of the total
road traffic in India. (Ministry of Corporate affairs, Road Transport Report)

It is clear from these reviews that Roads in addition to providing connectivity are the basis for
both regional and national development through improvement on social, economical and tourism
aspects.

4. Popular Roads Around The Globe

Globally the following are the best examples for popular roads shouldering economy and
tourism in many countries.
1. Pan American Highway,
2. Highway one Australia,
3. Great Ocean Road Australia,
4. Trans-Siberian Highway Russia,
5. Trans-Canada Highway,
6. Golden Quadrilateral Road India and
7. National Express ways Japan
5. Profile Of East Coast Road Of Tamil Nadu

5.1 Evolution of ECR

East Coast Road (State Highway 49) is one of the beautiful two lane highway road in which
one can enjoy driving the length of 765 kms. This ECR is located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal
which began its operation by connecting Chennai city and Cuddalore via Pondicherry in the Phase-I.
The Tamil Nadu government has taken several developing works in East Coast road and now this road
is extended up to Kanyakumari. East Coast Road connects Chidambaram, Karaikal, Nagore,

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Nagapattinam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupet, Adirampattinam, Meemisal, Thondi, Ramnad, and
Kanyakumari.

5.2 Tolls and Developers

The ECR, Phase-I was constructed and developed by Government of Tamil Nadu. Asian
Development Bank (ADB) supported with a loan of US $24.47 million during 1993-1998. The project
was implemented by Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC), an organization set up by
GoTN in 1998 for developing the state roads under the PPP framework. TNRDC is a 50:50 joint
venture between Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), the investment arm of
GoTN, and Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS), a well-known infrastructure
development and financial services company. This project developed as a key means of improving
coastal connectivity and as a route that leads to several tourist destinations, it was felt that an improved
road corridor would also lead to significant reduction in travel time and vehicle operating costs,
resulting in significant economic benefits (Thillai et al. 2009)

5.3 Network and Connectivity

The highway is a state highway, maintained by the Government of Tamil Nadu under the
Department of Highways and Minor Ports. The Central Government expressed plans to convert the
highway to a national highway and upgrade it to four lanes from the existing two lanes.

Figure – 2: East Coast Road Connectivity Map

( East Coast Road Project, 2007)

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6. Road User Satisfaction Index

6.1 Road User Satisfaction Index Model

Figure – 3: RUSI Model

(HPRIDC, 2007)

Mathematical Model - Road Users’ Satisfaction Index (RUSI)

Overall Satisfaction = (0.686) F1 + (0.262) F2 + (0.231) F3 + (0.097) F4 + (0.074) F5 + (0.069)
F6Where

F1 = Value for time and money

F2 = Comfort
F3 = Safety
F4 = Amenities
F5 = Distance signs
F6 = Road markings

7. Road Quality Index

7.1 Road Quality Index of various Countries

Table-1: Quality of Roads

[1 = Extremely Underdeveloped; 7 = Extensive and Efficient by International Standards]

[2011-12]

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 Rank Country Name / Economy Value

1 France 6.5
2 United Arab Emirates 6.5
3 Singapore 6.5
4 Portugal 6.4
5 Oman 6.4
6 Switzerland 6.4
7 Austria 6.3
8 Hong Kong SAR 6.3
9 Finland 6.1
10 Germany 6.1
85 India 3.5

Source: The World Bank, World Development Indicators (September 2012 edition)

8. Quality Study

8.1 Vermont Local Road Fact Sheet

According to Vermont local Road fact sheets (1984) these are the Ten Commandments for
Good Roads

1. Get Water away from the Road

2. Build on a Firm Foundation
3. Use the Best Soils Available
4. Compact Soils Well
5. Design for Winter and Summer Maintenance
6. Design for Traffic Loads and Volumes
7. Pave only those Roads that are Real
8. Build From the Bottom Up
9. Protect your Investment
10. Keep good records

8.2 Sample size and Questionnaire

This Research aimed to assess the quality of East Coast Road in Tamil Nadu, INDIA.
Questionnaire Survey method has been adopted to achieve the objectives of the research. The
questionnaire has been framed with 12 questions. The questionnaire has been given to various
categories of respondents as per their purpose of travel with back ground of Business, Tourism, Travel
Service Provider, Work Area, Resident, Shopping, Govt Official. The response collected randomly
from 75 respondents from the various spots of the East Coast Road between Tiruvanmiyur to
Mahabalipuram stretch. The spots are VGP Golden Beach Theme Park, On Road, Kovalam Beach
Village in ECR and Mahabalipuram World Heritage site. The Questionnaire consists of Respondent’s
Profile and Main Questions. The Questionnaire has equal weight age of Qualitative and Quantitative
aspects of questions.

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 Chart-1:
1: ECR Respondent’s from various Countries

80

70 68

60

50

40

30

20

10
2 2 1 1 1
0
India Singapore U.K France Mexico U.S.A

Source: Primary Data

Chart-2:
2: Purpose of Travel to East Coast Road

70%
62%
60%

50%

40%

30%

20% 14%
10%
10% 6% 4% 4%
0%
Tourism Work Shopping Business Travel Resident
Service

Source: Primary Data

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Volume: 09, Number: 06, October 2019 Page 7
 Chart-3: Overall Satisfaction

Not Responded 3%

Not at all Satisfied 2%

Not Satisfied 4%

Just Satisfied 22%

Satisfied 57%

Highly Satisfied 12%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Source: Primary Data

As per the response from the East Coast Road User Survey 62% of the ECR Users are
travelling to ECR for tourism. The Work and Shopping contribute less than 15 %. Almost six
percentages of Business people are travelling in ECR. The study also indicates that Travel Service
Provider and Resident people are contributing 4% each. The study reveals that 57% of ECR Users are
“Satisfied” and 12% are highly satisfied. The trend has been understood that 22% of users are just
satisfied and remaining came under other categories.

It is identified that more than 90% of travelers travelling through East Coast Road are satisfied
in some way. It is seen that “not satisfied” category accounted to a total 6% of respondents and “not
responded” users come to 3%

9. Major Problems Faced By East Coast Road Users

1. Public Restroom facilities & Drinking Water facilities
2. Lack of on road Hospital Services
3. Heavy accidents during week ends
4. Quality of the road is not up to the mark from Pondicherry to Kanyakumari
5. Lack of proper Lighting facility
6. Width of the Road is limited
7. Low level of Tourism information facility
8. Speed preachers may cause accidents
9. Safety of two wheeler user is big question mark
10. No separate lane for Heavy Vehicles and Light motor vehicles
11. No Pedestrians Facility throughout the road
12. Lack of Network and Connectivity to the town in Chennai District
13. Lack of food outlets between Pondicherry to Kanyakumari Stretch
14. Limited Emergency Care Services from Pondicherry to Kanyakumari
15. Limited Motels with garaging facility
16. Water Logging during the Rainy Season
17. No separate line for Ambulance Service
18. Lack of Roadside Shelters for Public
19. Lack of Truck drivers rest hours on the East Coast Road
20. High level of waiting time in the Toll

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9. GAP ANALYSIS
Gap Analysis is a central part of the teleological approach to change where dissatisfaction with
the current state is expressed as differences between the present.

MAP "AS IS"

PROCESSES
REVIEW
COMPARISIO
EXISTING
N
PROCESSES

RISK
IDENTICICATI
IMPLEMENTA
ON &
TION
IMPLICATION
S
RECOMMENDA
TIONS

Figure-4: Process of Gap Analysis

10. Suggestions
In continuation to the analysis from the responses provided by the users the following
suggestions are proposed
1. Introduce Eco friendly Bio Degradable Toilets at half-an-hour drive points.
2. Develop Quality Hospitals at reachable distances say on every 10th km.
3. Introduce Safety Driving Skills Development Centers
4. Monitor Road speed violation strictly.
5. Introduce Solar Lighting facility through the East Coast Road
6. Research on improving Two lane roads to additional lanes.
7. Identify Vantage Points of Accidents and rectify the road structure.
8. Develop Specific Speed limits for various segments of roads
9. Introduce Grievance redressal mechanism
10. Enhance Public support to improve Road Quality through Road shows.
11. Conduct Proper and periodic maintenance of roads
12. Introduce Emergency Information Sign boards
13. Introduce a position say Road Quality Coordinator who can coordinate among
the various departments concerned for ensuring better quality.
14. Make the pedestrian pavement area Stronger and more visible.
15. Provide better pedestrian crossings and better area for Bi-Cycle riders
16. Introduce Battery Cars at the tourism destinations to reduce pollution
17. Tourism has to be highlighted throughout the East Coast Road Stretch
18. Introduce Environment friendly road management System.
19. Introduce Online Information Management System for Road Awareness for ECR
20. Ban On Road alcoholic beverage outlets.
21. Install On Road reflector throughout ECR
22. Introduce Speed Management System Schools, Hospitals, Religious Places
23 .Waste Management System to be implemented in the all the sectors in ECR

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11. Conclusion
East Coast Road (ECR), a premier road in the state of TamilNadu, India, has provided
wonderful connectivity and economic and social development from its inception. The present study
has provided an insight into the quality standards of the ECR. The level of satisfaction is found to be
57 percentage which on the standards of management is good, yet there is room for development so as
to enhance it towards excellence. In that respect the quality assessment study has thrown light on the
areas such as Provision of Sanitary Facilities, Health Care Facilities, Solar Lighting Facility and Road
Quality Coordination facility and so on. It is sincerely hoped that these suggestions will provide better
directions for the administrators of East Coast Road (ECR) to make it Excellent East Coast Road
(EECR) of the World.

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